SCHOOL ROOF PROGRAM NEARS COMPLETION

The Beattie Government’s $120 million Asbestos Roof Replacement Program for Queensland state schools will be completed later this year, two and a half years since it began.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford today announced a further 58 asbestos roofs at 20 state schools would be replaced between July and December this year.

“The program is nearing completion ” Mr Welford said.

“It is a credit to all involved to have achieved such rapid pace at schools across a state the size of Queensland.

“Almost 95 per cent of the identified asbestos roofs have been replaced across Queensland.

“The availability of skilled trades people and fine weather made it possible to get the work done in such a short time.

”Our Government is the first in the state’s history to comprehensively address this issue and provide funding to replace every asbestos roof in every Queensland state school.”

Mr Welford said the schools where roofs are currently programmed to be replaced in the July-December period are:

Ashgrove State School (1 roof); Bald Hills State School (1 roof);Bundamba State Secondary College (5 roofs); Burnett State College (2 roofs), Cherbourg State School (1 roof); East Brisbane State School (1 roof), Glenala State High School (8 roofs); Goomeri State School (2 roofs); Junction Park State School (1 roof); Kilkivan State School (1 roof); Marshall Road State School (4 roofs); Monto State High School (3 roofs); Mundubbera State School (1 roof); Murgon State High School (7 roofs); Narbethong Special School (1 roof); Proston State School (2 roofs); ; Rockhampton State High School (4 roofs); Sandgate State School (7 roofs); Wondai State School (2 roofs) and Yeronga State High School (4 roofs).

Mr Welford said the Government would continue to replace asbestos building products in state schools as they became worn or deteriorated.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 32371000 or 0419 734 985